By Doris Lessenden

“Generosity isn’t just about money. Giving, not getting is the way.  Generosity begets generosity”, Jesus said.  So let’s start giving to others and see what happens.

Pastor Russell Parker took seven boys to a tremendous camp at the Webster Center in Salina, Kansas, last week.  Ty Wilson and Rooney Fehr of Sheridan Lake, Cade McDowell, Brandon Lening, Brigdon Parker, Joe Haase, and Dillon Hernandez of Eads were among the 220 or more campers at the Center.  The camp was in a spacious modern facility that had large gyms, outdoor and water sports on a lake as well as moving night worship services, and many team sports for boys and girls.  They also had sessions on leadership, motivation and inspiration.

There was a wedding shower for Morgan Blodgett and Tyler McCracken Sunday.  The young couple will be married July 30^th in Sheridan Lake.

Bill and Charlotte Woelk’s home was a lively place last week when their daughter, Char Korrell, and her two children were home with them.  Caleb was here from his military assignment and his sister, Carly and Joel and two little children, Connor and Natalie.  The family celebrated Connor’s 5^th birthday.  Cathy’s son, Byron, came down from Boulder to visit with the families in Colorado Springs.  The Woelk’s celebrated with their granddaughter, Sierra Woelk, and her new husband, R. C. Wallace, who were just married.

Welcome to Pastor Christine Richardson who will be in Eads to serve the Haswell –Eads congregations several days a week.  Some of the church members have remodeled the west side of the church to make a nice apartment for her to live in while she is in Eads.

Sharon Wilson and Holly Mitchek are in leadership roles in planning the Southern Plains 16U Softball Team play-offs by hosting the Midwest Regional Tournament in Eads, CO this week-end, July 14-17^th.  There will be teams from other states, so it is a great chance to see some fine players.  They are coached by Jay Wilson and Nathaniel and Holly Mitchek.  The players from Eads are:  Mindy Uhland, Miranda Mitchek, Jackie Dotson, Duff Jensen, and Brooklyn Jones, and from Sheridan Lake is Kaylee Wilson.  Lauren Spady and Ally Spady travel from Haswell to be on the team.  Destiny Ryser of Cheyenne Wells, Josie Cook of Wiley, Kelcy Wollert of Wiley, and Emily Weber of Kit Carson round out this dynamic team.  We welcome them and all the other teams and their families to our places of business and three parks.

It was interesting to attend the Fair Board Tuesday evening.  Those men and women meet monthly with a loaded agenda to plan and organize the Kiowa County Fair for September 7 to 11^th.  Besides the usual rodeos, 4-H and FFA Livestock Shows and Sale, they are planning changes to the exhibit areas, the rodeo corrals, and the Mechanical Bull tournament.  The working members I observed were, Tearle Lessenden, Scotty Englehardt, Bart Michael, Areta Laird, Nancy Walker, Realynn Riely, Jeni Weber, and Commissioner, Cindy McLoud.  There are other Board members but I didn’t see their names since the new exhibit book is being edited.

Young Corbin Jagers has been back to Children’s Hospital in Denver to see his three surgeons who did his facial reconstruction on his eye and head since Corbin had cancer when he was a tiny tot.  The family knew this day would come for the serious surgery.  He is a handsome young man of about ten years whose eyesight has returned about 85%. At Wiley Hay Days, he sold ice cycles, water balloons, and bubbles and then used the money he earned to buy a HUGE bag of art supplies that he took up to donate to kids in Children’s Hospital.  How nice to hear that he had learned to “give back” to others who have helped him.

At the Chamber of Commerce meeting last week, Jan Richards, KCEDF director, said that the Board had donated 1.85 acres of land west of the Historical Barn to build a six

unit set of family apartments.  That is so exciting. 

The 4^th of July Fireworks show was really lovely with a spectacular finale put on by the local Firemen and the Sheriff’s Department.  Many people were parked along the highway, the fairgrounds, and at the Praise and Christian Church parking lots.  When we drove home we saw lots of people sitting out on the front lawns of Larry and Carla Gifford, Lougene Jacobs, Stephanie Buck, Whit and Mary Eikner, and others along Maine even to the last East street in town at the home of Joe and Laurie Musgrave.

Molly Stolzenberger was working in the Maine Street Ice Cream Scoop when I asked her about her pretty aqua blue tee-shirt logo, “Wave of Change, Oceans of Opportunities” regarding 4-H.  She and Ryan Koeller were Kiowa County’s representatives to the State Conference at CSU-Fort Collins.  One of her 4-H projects is Scrap Booking in which she is highlighting her family’s cruise to three islands in June.

Evelyn Garner amazes people so much when they see her sitting in her overalls on the rocks under the trees on Maine Street.  She loves to pull the little weeds, cut the tree sprouts, and pick up trash.  The other night it suddenly started to rain, she kept on working.   Mike Arth was a good help to her up at the Prairie Pines because his hands were stronger to cut the thicker tree sprouts and to hold on to her as she walked on the rocks to the next tree.  What a lady!!! -EDITOR NOTE- Evelyn is 93 years young. She told me she is getting the town ready for Fair. And to echo Doris ‘What a Lady!’

The Crow Luther group—CLCEC, is organizing on another exciting MAINE STREET BASH for Saturday, July 30^th.  We have hired two outstanding bands, the Kit Carson Rodeo Road Apples and the Denver Dance on Fire band.  Our KidsZone will have face painting, Debi and Fred Derby’s miniature golf, radar throw, and other fun activities.  Plus there will be the Sheriff’s Department rock climbing wall and a “Sheriff and Jail.”  Dancing in the street, or singing Karaoke style in the theatre with Darwin Nelson’s sound system, or just watching and listening ought to be relaxing and entertaining.  Charlie and Mary Vasquez will offer Mexican fare, brauts, beef sloppers, ice cream, and other foods.   Anyone thinking about having a Vendor Space may call me, Doris for details.  There is no space charge, just the $10.00 admission per person.

Joyce Saffer enjoyed an 84^th birthday party with her families last week and then another party with the residents on Monday.  When she sees her son, Roger Saffer come in her smile really brightens.  That is how it is with parents; it is such a joy to see their children or the little ones.

There will be a farewell-good luck meal on the Patio, July 14^th for Dawn Back PA.  Weisbrod will provide hamburgers and hot dogs.  Other guests are asked to bring side dishes or desserts.

Local people and tourists have been pulling their boats out to the lakes for good times of water skiing, fishing, and having cook-outs.  What a blessing to have more water again.